Thursday, September 29, 2011

there are so many takes on subway art. and i had not yet tried creating my own. and lately my craft groove has been dormant (along with my blogging groove). but today i gave it a try. a sweet friend is having a birthday...a big one. so i decided to make her some subway art with the places and things that are most meaningful to her and her family.

what a fun project.

now i need to start one of my own. how about it ball's? give me your favorite family traditions, memories, places. i'll see what i can come up with.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

these two small original oil paintings hung in my grandmother's house. they were a gift to her from my mother. i love these two paintings. they are quaint, sweet and vivid, and, in person, have dimension and layers. they make my heart smile.

my mother purchased them from the artist, eric linnell, in 1945. she was on her way to work (her very first job) at wanamaker's in philadelphia. the artist was sitting outside of wanamaker's on the sidewalk painting them. still in their original frames, they measure only about 5" X 6".

they were lovingly handed from daughter to mother.

they hung in my grandma's house until she died in 1977.

after that they hung in my mom's house.

i've had my eyes on them ever since i can remember.
(so much so that i put my name on the back of them lest any of my siblings get any ideas that they might be going to their homes.)

Friday, June 17, 2011

biscotti di prato because it originated in the italian city of prato. it's a love acquired no doubt from my italian heritage. and hands down this is the best biscotti recipe ever. it comes courtesy of my niece (hey, sarah jones!) who got it from the mother of the owner of a little coffee shop she used to work at.

to quote wiki..."these cakes are large biscuits, made dry and crunchy through cutting the loaf of dough while still hot and fresh from baking in the oven"
so don't forget to slice and twice bake (or they won't be biscotti!) about another 10 minutes.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

it's no secret. i hate winter. that season of dormancy, darkness and cold. motivation escapes me. not a single fiber of my being is alive. my time is spent curled up in a ball trying to keep my bones warm while my spirit plummets. seasonal affective disorder. it's the winterizing of my soul. as the daylight wans i teeter into that dark, cold abyss. my soul falls dead asleep without feeling or hope. nature uses this time to rest. to reflect, rejuvenate, and replant. i am now, slowly, taking my cues from nature. and as the days begin to lengthen and the light begins to brighten i find myself waking up.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

its christmas morning. where are those bouncing ball? we've got presents to open!

happy will. and apparently bumpa likes little people too.

drew was happy too...but was still looking for that nerf recon. (yes, he found it.)

wessie got to building right away. cool stuff.

geez nana...clothes...that all you got.

yea skechers twinkle toes rock!

elise was happy...she hadn't found her clothes yet.

now if we could get the rest of those bouncing balls home from michigan,

we could wrap this christrmas thing up.

cause this nana has cooked her goose and needs to cuddle.

with this. (since the boy i live with went hunting...again.)

but i'm not complaining cause this keeps me nice and warm too.

with sleepytime herbal, lemon zinger, mandarin orange spice, cozy chamomile, peppermint, white hot chocolate, double chocolate, cafe mocha, and caramel apple cider.
and if this mormon momma gets to feeling edgy
she's got her eye on the butter toffee, hazlenut, raspberry chocolate truffle decafs.
thanks again babe...i love it. but you should know if you keep up this hunting pace,
my new keurig will be getting the best of me.

me and the boy i live with.

about me

i am wife to 1, mother to 3, mil to 3, nana to 10. i love family, interior design, before and afters, black and white, pink, brighton, summer, mountains, coke zero, patty tacos, and my faith. honesty and loyalty are important to me. i'm glad that i still get butterflies when the boy i live with comes home. i wish i were thinner, smarter, and wittier. i wish i had better handwriting. but i am happy, satisfied and grateful. my pocketbook is full.